WILSON, James S. (1872-1920)

WILSON

Posted By: Karon King (email)
Date: 5/6/2017 at 23:52:59

James Stuart Wilson
(Aug 23, 1872 - May 7, 1920)

Advocate-Tribune, Indianola, IA, Thurs., May 13, 1920, p.6
Rev. J. S. Wilson
Reverend James S. Wilson, for six years pastor of the United Presbyterian church in Indianola, died Friday morning from pneumonia. Rev. Nathan Weingart, of Scotch Ridge, conducted the funeral services which were held Sunday afternoon at the church. He was assisted by the other ministers in town and by Rev. R. W. Thompson, pastor of the First United Presbyterian church in Des Moines, who read the obituary given below; the Reverend James Stuart Wilson was born August 23, 1872, near Rose Point, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. His parents were Thomas Hamilton and Amanda McCain Wilson. While yet in youth his mother died, leaving the father, a little brother and himself in the home which they maintained together for a number of years. More recently the father and brother were called by death. With the decease of James the circle of his boyhood home becomes complete again in the heavenly home. The Christian experience of Brother Wilson began in infancy. Favored with Christian parents and with a Christian ancestry numbering back for generations, like Timothy he had from a child the unfeigned faith that dwelt in his godly parents and forefathers. In early teens he became a member of the United Presbyterian church of Oak Grove, Pennsylvania, the church of his parents, then under the pastorate of Rev. Nathan Weingart. This Christian profession has been maintained and exemplified in the habits and example of his life from that day until the hour of his departure. On the threshold of the other world he gave expression to his hope in the Christian faith. And as a pastor he had led many others, young and old, to make the same good confession. Among his effects is a prayer list of those whom he was trying to lead to Christ. After completing the public schools he pushed on in the educational world, attending in turn Rose Point academy and Muskingum college, graduating from the latter in 1898. Receiving a call to the Christian ministry he was not disobedient to the heavenly vision but began at once in Pittsburg theological seminary his training for this high calling. In both college and seminary he held a high rank, both as a scholar and as a man among men. His ministry of nearly twenty years was divided among three fields. The first pastorate was the united charge of Prospect and Mt. Chestnut near his boyhood home where he served from May, 1901 until mid-summer of 1908. He then accepted a call to Colorado Springs, Colo., and continued there until the autumn of 1914. While pastor in Colorado, Mr. Sunday conducted one of his memorable evangelistic meetings, during which Mr. Wilson had charge of the prayer groups. Mr. Sunday paid a high tribute to his work in this department, saying that he had not heretofore had a man to bring such devotion and ability to his work as did Mr. Wilson. He was installed pastor in Indianola October 30, 1914, where he continued as leader until the close of his earthly career. Mr. Wilson had opportunities to go into other fields of work, but neither in these nor in the churches where he labored did he seek a call. His life was at the service of God, and to be used where He designated. Until the last Sabbath of his life he had always been physically able to fill his appointments, never missing a preaching engagement. Mr. Wilson gave liberally of his time and strength to the wider work of the church and world, serving in important places in the Presbytery and synod, and in the local community work.
On November 20, 1902, he was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Eckert, who survives him. They had grown up in each other’s knowledge, being neighbors from childhood. During these seventeen and a half years, wherever they have live, theirs has been an ideal Christian home. The standards he proclaimed in his preaching were faithfully practiced in his own home. The children, Arthur and Eleanor, have a priceless heritage in the instruction received around the family altar and the memory of their father’s earnest desire to make real to them the best things in life found in Christ. After eleven days of illness from pneumonia, despite the most skillful nursing and medical care, on Friday morning, May 7th, 1920, at 6:45 he quietly slipped away.
Mrs. Wilson and two children, accompanied by Mrs. Anna B. Dowell, left Monday evening with the body for Portersville, Pa. The Wilsons will remain in Pennsylvania at their old home.